TigerStop®, a machinery design company for the wood, metal, plastic, and fenestration manufacturing markets, has spent 17 years providing sophisticated stop gauges and push systems for accurate and consistent positioning to machine tools for cutting, bending, drilling, or any linear processing. Their goal is to reduce scrap product, save money and improve time to process for their customers, which perfectly aligns them with PBC Linear’s Design on a Diet approach. Recently, the two collaborated on the linear motion design for TigerStop’s new rack and pinion positioning system: TigerRack™. After reviewing the design with TigerStop® engineers, PBC Linear recommended their Integral-V™ linear guide system to reduce mounting components, improve alignment and provide ease of installation across scalable working lengths.
When accuracy and rugged durability are a must, the TigerRack™ stop gauge and push feed system brings repeatable automated positioning with no set-up time and less scrap. Originally, the rack-and-pinion driven system used an internally designed linear guide; however, TigerStop® decided to integrate the advantages of PBC Linear’s Integral-V™ Technology (IVT) into the product. Comprised of a structural aluminum extrusion embedded with steel races, IVT is precision machined to hold accuracy tolerances to ±0.025mm/0.001’’. The embedded steel races and machining also ensure easy install and alignment with 40% fewer mounting components – further reducing set-up time. Going from concept to drawing in just two months, the entire design process was completed via rapid prototyping in less than six months!
Built Metal Tough™ and combined with Integral-V™, the TigerRack™ provides accurate positioning for band saws, punches, bending machines, and brakes by holding precision to =/- 0.008’’. The cam roller design of IVT allows it to roll smoothly through metal or wood chips without stalling or misalignment. Another advantage of using Integral-V is overall length. Equipped with IVT, the TigerRack™ assembly can be sealed to meet application needs from 8’ to 108’ – perfect for either individual workstations or multi-line factories. The rack and pinion drive accurately pushes loads ranging from 300 lbs. to 720 lbs. (with roller table) and up to 300 fpm. All in all, the TigerRack™ offers a durable and cost effective push system and stop gauge in one easily assembled package.
“We have several machines in the field with IVT rails and have no major service issues with these units; they are performing as expected if not better,” says Simon Soot, operations manager, TigerStop®, “The machine in house using IVT rails continues to produce reliable and accurate parts, even with a very large load/carriage attached.”
TigerStop®
www.tigerstop.com
PBC Linear
www.pbclinear.com
::Design World::
Filed Under: Factory automation, Machine tools + subtractive manufacturing, LINEAR MOTION, Motion control • motor controls
